Knapsack



Patented Mar. 14, I899. J. J. MAI-IONEY.

KNAPSACK.

(Applicgtion filed Aug. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT @EETQE.

JOHN J. MAHONEY, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNAPSAC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,265, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed August 5, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MAHONEY, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knapsacks, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains or with which it is most nearly connected to make and use the same.

My invention relates to knapsacks, and more particularly to knapsacks of that class that are adapted to the peculiar needs of soldiers and tourists.

The object of my invention is to so construct a knapsack as to make it possible to carry the same While on the march with the least practical inconvenience and at the same time to afford abundant facilities for storing the various articles pertaining to the toilet in the most convenient and accessible manner.

To this end my invention comprises an elongated flexible case provided with such arrangements of pockets, flaps, &c., as to contain articles of apparel and such other articles as are necessary to the outfit of a soldier or a tourist in the least possible bulk and so disposed as to afford a handy and convenient travelers companion when the same is unrolled and hung upon the wall of the room or tent.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my knapsack unfolded. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, the flaps being turned in and fastened. Fig. 3 is a sectional view at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a perspective View of the knapsack rolled up in form to be carried.

As shown in the drawings, my knapsack consists of a main body portion A, provided with side flaps a a and end flap or extension I). The body portion is provided with suitable pockets 0, which are closed by means of a flap or lid cl, which buttons down over it.

Additional pockets, as shown at 6, may be provided. The side flaps a are also provided with suitable pockets a. side flaps is secured a series of cross-straps f, provided with one or more fasteners g. These cross-straps serve a twofold purpose. When the knapsack is rolled up with its contents inside, they serve to keep the contents in bulk of the contents.

To one of these Serial No. 687,786. (No model.)

place. More than one fastener may be used to accommodate the length of strap to the These straps also serve as hangers, upon which towels or articles of clothing may be hung when the device is suspended from the wall in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Along the back or outside of the main section I secure a series of straps 'i, which pass around the knapsack when it is rolled up and hold its contents firmly in place and keep it from unrolling.

The end flap or extension 1) serves to vary the length or capacity of the knapsack according to bulk of the contents which it is desired to carry. Thus when few articles are carried the flap b may be folded down flat, thus shortening the length of the knapsack to that extent.

Along the side edge of the main body portion A, I secure in any suitable manner a number of rings Z. I also provide a strap m, adapted to be detachable, for the purpose of supporting the knapsack from the shoulders.

The whole knapsack is made of canvas, duck, rubber, or other suitable material that is light, durable, and flexible and is adapted when packed and rolled to be carried inside the rolled blanket which is usually carried by soldiers. This flexibility allows it to adapt itself to the shape or conformation of the shoulders or back, while the absence of rigidity and hardness prevents it from wearing upon or galling the carrier. By simply unbuckling the straps and suspending it from the wall of the tent an extremely convenient and well-arranged travelers companion is f urnished.

It will be observed that the side flaps are narrow in comparison with the main body portion, thus affording ample room to suspend towels or the like upon the cross connecting-straps.

The advantages of my novel construction are so apparent that it is deemed unnecessary to give further explanation.

Without attempting to set forth all the minor variations that may be made in the embodiment of my invention or all the modes of its use, what I claim is 1. A knapsack of flexible material, comprising a main body portion provided at its ICO lower end with a series of pockets open at their upper ends, a pair of folding flaps, extending along the sides of the main portion, but of less length than said main portion, said flaps being provided with pockets, a flexible extension-flap formed at the upper end of said body portion, and a carrying or supporting strap, detachably connected with the main bodyportion midway of the ends of said body.

2. A knapsack of flexible material, comprising a main body portion, provided with suitable pockets, open at the top, folding side flaps also provided with series of pockets, said side flaps being of much less width than the main body, a series of cross-straps, secured to one of said flaps, being provided with detachable fasteners for connecting them to the opposite flaps, the straps being of sufficient length and arranged so as to form supports or hangers for articles of apparel, when the knapsack is unrolled and hung up, and a series of straps secured to and adapted to pass around said knapsack when it is rolled up, the entire knapsack being free from any bars or frames which interfere with its complete flexibility.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing, witnesses, this 2d day of August, A. D. 1898.

JOHN J. MAIIONEY. 

